UTSA linebacker aims to go back home, fight real blazes

Updated 1:15 am, Friday, November 2, 2012

UTSA senior linebacker Brandon Reeves talks to reporters after the first day of fall practice for the Roadrunners at Dub Farris Stadium on Aug. 5, 2012. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

UTSA senior linebacker Brandon Reeves talks to reporters after the first day of fall practice for the Roadrunners at Dub Farris Stadium on Aug. 5, 2012. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo: MARVIN PFEIFFER, Express-News

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UTSA linebackers Brandon Reeves (center) and Steven Kurfehs (right) defend on passing drulls during the first day of fall practice for the Roadrunners at Dub Farris Stadium on Aug. 5, 2012. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

UTSA linebackers Brandon Reeves (center) and Steven Kurfehs (right) defend on passing drulls during the first day of fall practice for the Roadrunners at Dub Farris Stadium on Aug. 5, 2012. MARVIN PFEIFFER/

UTSA senior linebacker Brandon Reeves during the first day of fall practice for the Roadrunners at Dub Farris Stadium on Aug. 5, 2012. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

UTSA senior linebacker Brandon Reeves during the first day of fall practice for the Roadrunners at Dub Farris Stadium on Aug. 5, 2012. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

Photo: MARVIN PFEIFFER, Express-News

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FOR SPORTS - David Glasco II (center) looks for running room between Ferrington Macon (left) and Brandon Reeves (right) during the 2012 UTSA Football Fiesta Spring Game held Sunday April 15, 2012 at the Alamodome.

FOR SPORTS - David Glasco II (center) looks for running room between Ferrington Macon (left) and Brandon Reeves (right) during the 2012 UTSA Football Fiesta Spring Game held Sunday April 15, 2012 at the

UTSA linebacker Brandon Reeves, top, tackles Donald Russell of Georgia State during first-half college football action at the Alamodome on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.net Georgia State at UTSA the University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA player, #53, Brandon Reeves sits on the sidelines in the fourth quarter during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian Baer/Special to the San Antonio Express-News

UTSA player, #53, Brandon Reeves sits on the sidelines in the fourth quarter during the UC Davis Aggies 38-17 victory over the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011. Brian

UC Davis player, #20, Colton Silveria dives for a touchdown as he drags UTSA player, #17, Erik Brown and UTSA player, #53, Brandon Reeves as the UC Davis Aggies hosts the University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA football players Kam Jones (01), Earon Holmes (12), Steven Kurfehs (44) and Marcellus Mack (09) pose for a picture from teammate Brandon Reeves (53) during football media day at the Convocation Center on

Rice quarterback Taylor McHargue (16) is brought down by Texas-San Antonio defensive end Dan Winter (95) and linebacker Brandon Reeves during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game at Rice Stadium,

UTSA senior linebacker Brandon Reeves already has mapped out his strategy for the future.

After he completes his football career and earns an undergraduate degree, he wants to go back home and get a job in law enforcement, with an eye on becoming a firefighter.

A dangerous line of work?

Sure. But if his two-year career with the fledgling UTSA football program is any indication, residents in Santa Clarita in southern California should feel good about the return of a native son who wants to pursue a career in public service.

“I've been thinking about it a lot,” Reeves said.

Reeves, specifically, said he'd like to return home and work on another degree in fire science.

“Then, either stay (on) as a sheriff and try to work as an arson-explosives investigator, or go fireman,” he said. “That's my plan.”

Reeves has been fighting fires on a weekly basis for UTSA's 4-2-5 defense.

Ever since he showed up as a recruit in 2011, he has led the team in tackles while playing every game.

Undersized at 5-foot-11 and 220 pounds, Reeves came out of Pierce College in California and has emerged as a mainstay for a start-up program that has won nine of its first 18 games.

Reeves enjoyed individual highlights at New Mexico State and Rice with back-to-back 12-tackle efforts.

The past two weeks, in turn, have been difficult.

Against San Jose State, he produced only four stops and, with decreased playing time, Reeves managed only one tackle against Utah State.

Coker said Reeves is struggling physically.

“He's not full speed,” the coach said. “He's cleared to play, but as (coach) Butch Davis used to say, you get later in the year and nobody is in mint condition.”

If Reeves is slowed with an injury, he's not admitting it.

“I'm perfectly fine,” he said.

With a game at No. 25 Louisiana Tech looming Saturday, Reeves said he needs to increase his intensity.

“I need to step up my game,” he said. “But it's not all about me and my stats. I'm just trying to make as many plays as I can.”

Up until a few weeks ago, Reeves ranked in the top six in tackles in the Western Athletic Conference. He's 11th with 56 tackles going into the Louisiana Tech game.

UTSA defensive coordinator Neal Neathery said the program is better today because of former Pierce JC players Reeves and Franky Anaya.

Neathery called the recruitment of those two athletes “one of the best decisions we've made” and noted that Reeves, in particular, has “maxed out his potential” as a player.

“He's a pleasure to coach,” Neathery said. “I'm just really, really glad we picked him up.”

Energized by the thought of returning to California and starting his career, Reeves nevertheless said he is feeling torn as his college days wind down.

“I'm excited, but then I know my last game is going to be emotional for me,” he said. “I'm trying not to think about it. I'm trying to just play my hardest. I don't know if I'm ever going to play again, so I just have to give it my best.”